A potential geroprotector is being tested on dogs

Rapamycin may become a drug to combat aging in dogs

Anna Stavina, XX2 century

Scientists from the American Anti-Aging Association (American Aging Association) tried to increase the life expectancy of dogs with rapamycin. It is an immunosuppressive drug approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Currently, rapamycin is prescribed – in combination with other drugs – to patients who have undergone organ transplantation. It is also used to treat certain types of cancer. A little more than 10 years ago, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, a researcher at the University of Washington Medical Center, began studying the effect of rapamycin on aging processes.

"This drug has demonstrated an absolutely incredible effect on the aging process in all the laboratories where it was tested. It also improved the quality of life in old age," says Dr. Keberlein.

The results of research on mice impressed the doctor so much that he launched a project to combat aging in dogs (Dog Aging Project). The study included 24 dogs of medium and large breeds aged 7-8 years (in canids, this age is considered elderly). The main purpose of the work was to study the effect of rapamycin on the work of the heart.

After a 10-week course, the animals showed an improvement in some indicators of cardiac activity, deteriorating with age. No side effects were noted (see the summary report on the first phase of Trial One Study Summarized on the project website). According to the researcher, rapamycin can increase the life expectancy of dogs by 25% or 2.5 years, assuming that on average dogs live about 10 years.

Currently, the project has opened a set of dogs for phase II trials.

Dr. Betsy Goldenberg, a veterinarian from San Francisco, notes that rapamycin is not currently prescribed to pets in this city. "As a scientist, as a researcher, I would like to get reliable data demonstrating whether this drug works as a means of slowing down aging. I believe that there is no such information yet," explains Dr. Goldenberg. – Rapamycin is not approved by the FDA for use in cats and dogs, in the project to combat aging in dogs, it is used outside of the registered indications."

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  07.03.2017